Effect of Different Fibers Loading on Palm and Aramid Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Epoxy Composite

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this present research, palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) and aramid fiber reinforced epoxy composite is fabricated by hand lay-up technique with equal fiber ratio (Palm:Aramid = 1:1) and fiber loading constituting of 0, 5, 10 and 15 wt.% fiber, where palm acted as natural fiber and aramid acted as synthetic fiber. The use of bio fibers as reinforcement in polymer matrix composites is thought to have better prospects in terms of showing high earmarked properties such as light in weight, lowest density, less costly, environmental conciliation, have sustained aspect for effective transfer of stress, etc. Mainly, the effect of fibre loading on mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, impact, hardness) and physical property (water absorption) is assessed in this research work. Experiments are directed according to ASTM standards for evaluating mechanical and physical properties. Surface morphological analysis is conducted through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) for observing the fiber–matrix bonding on the tensile fracture surface. After evaluation, it is found that flexural, impact, hardness properties along with water absorption percentage have shown incremental behaviour with the enhancement of fiber loading. On the other hand, tensile properties have shown dissimilar performance with the enhancement of fiber loading.